Switch



Oct 1941- E. G. REAV ES 2,261,076

SWITCH Filed March 18, 1940 ECQZGS INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWITCH Edward G. Reaves, Kannapolis, N. 0.

Application March 18, 1940, Serial No. 324,712

v(Cl. 200-36) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electrical switches and especially is concerned with a novel switch mechanism useful in conjunction with an alarm clock.

It is an object of this invention to provide electrical switching means useful in conjunction with and operable by an alarm clock or the like which can serve either to complete or interrupt an electrical circuit at a preselected time.

An advantage of the novel electrical switching means according to this invention over other types of electrical switches used in conjunction with alarm clocks or the like is that it permits both the Winding of the alarm mechanism of the clock in conjunction with which the switch is used and also permits the alarm mechanism to operate in its normal manner, that is to say, fully to sound the alarm at the selected time when the switch is operated.

Noteworthy among the features of the novel switch according to the present invention are its simplicity and ruggedness of construction, the former suiting the device to the requirements of manufacture under conditions of mass production and the latter assuring long useful life.

Other objects, advantages and features of the new and improved switch according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in this art during the course of the following description.

Regarded in certain of its broader aspects the novel electrical switch according to this invention comprises a shaft attachable to the threaded N spindle of a conventional alarm clock, an electrical switch arm sweeping a plurality of electrical contacts providing an electrical switch, and a unidirectional clutch coupling said arm and said shaft whereby when the spindle of the alarm clock rotates, the switch arm is moved from one of the contacts to another without inhibiting continued rotation of the spindle.

In order to facilitate a fuller and more complete understanding of the present invention a specific embodiment thereof herein illustrated will be hereinafter described, it being clearly understood, however, that the illustrated embodiment, although presently preferred, is provided solely by way of example of the practice of this invention and not by way of limitation thereof except insofar as the invention is recited in the subjoined claims.

Referring then to the drawing,

Figure 1 is substantially a side elevational view of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention showing the same mounted upon an appropriate standard and connected to a 'conventional alarm clock,

Fig. 2 is essentially a top plan view of the switch mechanism with the casing top removed, Fig. 3 is substantially a vertical sectional View of the switch mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2

taken along a plane designated by the line 33,

Fig. 4 is essentially a vertical sectional view of Fig. 2 taken along the line 4-4 thereof,

Fig. 5 is essentially an exploded perspective view of the switch assembly mounted upon the operating shaft, and

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram showing the interconnection of parts of the switch mechanism.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive of the drawing it will be noted that the presently preferred embodiment of this invention therein illustrated generally designated by the reference character l0 comprises a hollow box-like casing H closed at the top by a cover I2 attached to the casing by appropriate fastening means l2a. A shaft l3 freely rotatably mounted in bearings formed in the casing sides extends transversely across the interior of the casing projecting on opposite sides thereof sub-.

stantially as shown. The end 13a of the shaft I3 is provided with a tapped opening Ba and in like manner the opposite end 13b of the shaft 13 is provided with a tapped opening I 32). It is to be understood that the threads of the openings I311 and I31) are opposed, that is to say, one is a left hand thread and one is a right hand thread to facilitate engagement of the shaft with substantially any of the existing types of clock alarm spindles such as the spindle a of the alarm clock A illustrated in the figures of the drawing. To facilitate manual rotation of the shaft l3, radially extending bars I30 mounted in the shaft end portions are provided.

A sleeve l4 mounted upon the shaft l3 on the portion which is positioned within the walls of the casing II is rigidly secured to the shaft by a pin [4, which passes through openings formed in the sleeve and shaft. One end of the sleeve l4 carries a radially outwardly extending flange Na in which is formed a radially extending segmental slot Mb. The slot is formed by radially cutting the flange and bending a portion of the flange in the direction away from the sleeve l4 whereby in effect a radial rib I40 is provided projecting above the plane defined by the surface of the flange. A second sleeve [5 is loosely mounted on the shaft l3 and terminating at one end in a radially extending flange l 5a in engagement with a washer lb loosely mounted on shaft 13 and having a segmental radially extending opening 150 formed therein and provided with an upstanding radial rib lEd similar to the rib Me of the flange Ma. By this arrangement, it will be seen that the disc (51) can slip on the flange l5a to allow the shaft l3 to continue to rotate to sound the alarm. A spring IS sleeved upon the shaft l3 and the sleeve l4 presses the flange Ma against the washer l5b whereby the ribs formed in the flange and washer interengage substantially in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2 providing in substantially a uni-directional clutch for transferring rotation of the shaft to the second sleeve 15.

The opposite end of the sleeve l5 terminates in a flange l5e upon which is rigidly mounted a washer ll having a radially extending integrally formed arm l'l'a. The washer I! and the arm are fabricated from an electrically conductive material such as sheet metal or the like and, by action of the spring Hi above described, are pressed against a contact plate l8 mounted upon an insulative block l9 carried on an inner side of the casing H substantially as shown. A radially extending member i 8a is carried upon the plate Hi to facilitate connection of a wire thereto for reasons which hereinafter more clearly will be apparent. The pair of radially spaced contact members 20 and 2! positioned near the periphery of the washer I! and adapted to engage the radially projecting arm Ila when the sleeve is rotated are mounted upon the insulative block 19 substantially in the manner illustrated in the figures of the drawing. A spring [5g positioned upon the sleeve 45 and engaging at one end with a rigid formation Ila on the inner surface of the casing H and at its opposite end with the flange l5e tends to hold the arm l'l'a in engagement with the contact member 2i although of course the arm Ila can be moved from engagement with the contact member 2| against the action of the spring [So by rotation of the shaft l3 and engagement of the ribs [40 and [5d of the unidirectional clutch assembly above described.

Current is fed to the switch generally designated by the reference character [0 through the lines 22, one of which lines 22a is connected directly to the socket terminal 23 which engages with a prong 24 of the plug 25 connected to one of the wires of the output cable 26. The other input line 22b is connected to a lug 21 wiping a rotor 28 of a rotary switch whereby the line 22b can be placed in electrical circuit with either of two contact elements 29 and 30 which, mounted on the block 20, engage with the rotor 28 during rotation thereof. Rotation of the rotor 28 is facilitated by a knob 3| mounted on the shaft thereof positioned exterior the casing substantially as shown. The contact elements 29 and 30 are connected to the contact elements and 2| respectively of the switch assembly above described. Thus it is possible by appropriate manipulation of the rotor 28 selectively to connect one of the contact elements 20 or 2| with the input line 22b. The plate I 8 is connected by a line 18b to the socket terminal 32 which wipes the prong 33 of the plug 25. The electrical interconnection of the parts of the device is illustrated in Fig. 6 from which it will be apparent that, assuming shifting of the arm Ila from the contact member 2! to the contact member 20 at a selected time, the switch can serve to complete or interrupt an electrical circuit between the input lines 22 and the output lines 26, depending upon the position of the rotor 28 which determines whether the circuit is to be completed or interrupted.

In use the device conveniently is mounted upon a standard 34 carried upon a base 35, the standard being received in openings formed in the bottom of the casing II and in the cover [2 thereof. A set screw 36 mounted in a collar 31 on the casing top l2 serves to permit the holding of the switch at a selected position upon the standard. The shaft l3b is then engaged with an alarm spindle a of a clock A, it being understood of course that the clock mechanism function in a manner such that when the alarm is sounded and the spindle a rotates, the ribs He and [5d on the flange Ma and washer l5b respectively will be interengaged and the sleeve [5 r0- tated. While in some instances it may be desirable positively to rotate the sleeve 15 by power from the alarm spindle, experience indicates that in most instances it is desirable to arrange the elements of the device in a manner such that when the alarm is wound, which can be accomplished by rotation of the shaft l3 after engagement with the spindle a, the ribs [40 and l5d should interengage to hold the arm Ila against the contact element 20 contrary to the action of the spring l5g. In this instance when the alarm sounds the shaft l3 rotates, thereby permitting the spring I5g to move the arm Ha from position against the contact member 23 into position against the contact member 2!. Further rotation of the shaft l3 of course will not effect the disposition of the switch elements since the unidirectional clutch system permits free overriding of the flange 15a on the disc l5b and allow the free movement of the shaft in the direction opposite to that causing engagement of the clutch elements. This mode of using the novel switch according to the present invention is advantageous in that it permits both operation of the switching means and the full sounding of the alarm. It of course will be obvious from what has been said above that the switch can be employed to complete or interrupt an electrical circuit at a preselected time by positioning the rotor 28 against the contact element 30 or 29 as may be desired.

It is to be understood that this invention is capable of extended application and is not confined to the precise illustrated forms nor described construction and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the present invention, what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electrical switch adapted for use in conjunction with an alarm clock or the like comprising a supported freely rotatable shaft having a tapped opening formed in the end thereof for receiving and engaging with a threaded clock alarm stem; a rotary switch; and a unidirectional clutch coupling said switch and said shaft whereby rotation of the shaft causes operation of the switch; said clutch comprising a first sleeve rigidly mounted upon the shaft having a radially extending flanged end portion cut and segmentally outwardly bent to provide a radial rib, a second sleeve connected to the rotary switch likewise flanged at one end, a disc loosely mounted on the shaft and frictionally engaging the flange, and cut to present a radial rib, and spring pressing means for urging said ribs into washer loosely interposed between the flange of the sleeve resting against the flange of said first sleeve, ribs on the flanged portions of said first sleeve and washer interengageable solely when the first sleeve is rotated with respect to the second sleeve in a selected direction; a rotary switch arm mounted on said second sleeve; and contact elements swept by said switch arm whereby electrical circuits including said arm and said elements can be altered by rotation of said shaft.

EDWARD G. REAVES. 

